![Football fans sat socially distanced at Brighton v Chelsea match](./assets/P7gB90pOUc/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0662-2560x1440.jpeg)
Brighton and Hove Albion versus Chelsea, on Saturday 28 August 2020, was far more than just a pre-season friendly.
![Brighton and Hove Albion fan holding a scarf for his team](./assets/QxX6CgAQVZ/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0075-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fan using hand sanitiser outside stadium](./assets/wH6KJHzK9x/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0069-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fans queue for entry, socially distanced in car park](./assets/uFO4jcT3xa/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0122-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton and Hove Albion fan holding a scarf for his team](./assets/QxX6CgAQVZ/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0075-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fan using hand sanitiser outside stadium](./assets/wH6KJHzK9x/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0069-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fans queue for entry, socially distanced in car park](./assets/uFO4jcT3xa/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0122-2560x1440.jpeg)
For the first time since lockdown measures were introduced, fans were able to return to elite-level football, following the Government's announcement of a new batch of pilot events.
![Digital display saying "please maintain social distancing"](./assets/OWHtHyB6hF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0184-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Digital display saying "this kiosk is card payment only"](./assets/tj6PvZGmjX/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0186-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Picture of Brighton football stadium with one-way signs on floor](./assets/3E3Lo8d6Vh/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0261-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Digital display saying "please maintain social distancing"](./assets/OWHtHyB6hF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0184-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Digital display saying "this kiosk is card payment only"](./assets/tj6PvZGmjX/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0186-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Picture of Brighton football stadium with one-way signs on floor](./assets/3E3Lo8d6Vh/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0261-2560x1440.jpeg)
With new safety measures in place - including face coverings which needed to be worn while moving around the stadium but were not compulsory in seats - 2500 supporters were able to watch their team play live for the first time since March.
![Signs outside Brighton football ground outlining safety measures in place](./assets/bU1mQDA2MF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0114-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fans wearing face coverings enter the ground](./assets/aZbPRLLY7K/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0128-2560x1440.jpeg)
![A security guard checks a fan while both wear PPE to stay safe](./assets/uOG3zaqj6c/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0127-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Signs outside Brighton ground saying that "no bags larger than A4 will be permitted"](./assets/L9bzcDm1JI/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0106-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Signs outside Brighton football ground outlining safety measures in place](./assets/bU1mQDA2MF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0114-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Brighton fans wearing face coverings enter the ground](./assets/aZbPRLLY7K/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0128-2560x1440.jpeg)
![A security guard checks a fan while both wear PPE to stay safe](./assets/uOG3zaqj6c/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0127-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Signs outside Brighton ground saying that "no bags larger than A4 will be permitted"](./assets/L9bzcDm1JI/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0106-2560x1440.jpeg)
These pilot events are key to helping fans get back to experiencing live sport safely.
![Fans sat socially distanced in the stands](./assets/7Gn4PXz17g/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0436-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Female Brighton fan wearing a team hat and holding a scarf](./assets/i0YcShmB2j/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0266-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Interior of Brighton stadium looking across the pitch to socially distanced fans](./assets/wkhA3T6liF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0272-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Fans sat socially distanced in the stands](./assets/7Gn4PXz17g/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0436-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Female Brighton fan wearing a team hat and holding a scarf](./assets/i0YcShmB2j/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0266-2560x1440.jpeg)
![Interior of Brighton stadium looking across the pitch to socially distanced fans](./assets/wkhA3T6liF/brighton_and_hove_albion_v_chelsea_pre_season_friendly_29aug20_ph-0272-2560x1440.jpeg)
More pilots will be taking place over the coming weeks as we work to get fans safely back to stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.